Song of the Day: The Coup – My Favorite Mutiny

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is My Favorite Mutiny by The Coup from their 2006 Pick A Bigger Weapon release on Epitaph.

Boots Riley co-founded The Coup in 1991 in his hometown of Oakland; partnered with DJ Pam the Funkstress, he continues to deliver the raptivism on Pick A Bigger Weapon, their sixth studio album. Included are collaborations with the artists you might expect, given the high regard Riley is held in both creatively and as a social activist; Talib Kweli and the Roots’ Black Thought both appear on the track “My Favorite Mutiny”, and guest musicians on the disc include Tom Morello and members of P-Funk. Rolling Stone says Pick a Bigger Weapon is “the rare record that makes revolution sound like hot fun on a Saturday night”, but accolades have been coming in for years; 2001’s Party Music made many a top ten list, including “Album of the Year” by pubs such as the Washington Post and the SF Chronicle. Although he keeps a full schedule as a public speaker around the Bay area community, Riley gets around; having guested on their recent album, he’s currently on tour in Australia with Galactic.